The Label Manufacturers Association of India (LMAI) hosted a panel discussion titled “Insights & Innovations: Navigating the Future of Labels in India from a Buyer’s Perspective” on 12 April 2024, at Hotel Westin Powai, Mumbai.

The event saw a turnout of 120 LMAI members, with over 65% comprising prominent printer members, the LMAI board of directors, sponsors, panelists, and media representatives. Distinguished panelists from leading FMCG companies, such as Koel Bhadra from Loreal, Sanjay Ghoshal from Diageo, Yogesh Bambal from Mondelez, Amit Saurkar from Marico, Sainath Mane from Unilever, and Prabir Das, formerly associated with Mylan, shared insightful perspectives in response to questions posed by moderator Harveer Sahni, chairman of Weldon Celloplast and director of LMAI.

LMAI secretary Jaideep Singh welcomed the panelists, while Sandhya Shetty, event coordinator, introduced the panelists. Initiating the discussion, Koel Bhadra stressed the importance of desirability and sustainability while creating innovations.

Sanjay Ghoshal highlighted the importance of embellishment, innovation, and security features in labels, highlighting their role as vital sales facilitators, especially with the reduction of outer cartons due to sustainability measures. Prabir Das emphasized the necessity for small labels to contain all variable data and for pharmaceutical labels to adhere to government-mandated statutory information. Yogesh Bambal stressed the significance of personalization in enhancing sales, particularly during festive periods.

Amit Saurkar echoed the importance of food safety, advocating for the use of non-migratory inks, coatings and adhesives to prevent health hazards. Sainath Mane from Unilever discussed the significance of selecting the appropriate printing technology – be it flexo, screen, or gravure – based on the product and its target consumers.